German Parliament passes controversial hate speech bill

Berlin, July 1 (IANS) The German Federal Parliament (Bundestag) on Friday passed a bill which will require social media networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, to delete content in clear breaches of hate speech laws within 24 hours of receiving a complaint.

In ambiguous cases of the above, network operators have a window of seven days to act. Widespread failure to comply with the new regulation could incur fines of up to 50 million euros ($57 million), Xinhua news agency reported.

Under Germany’s prevailing legal framework, hate speech includes the incitement to kill or be violent, threatening speech, abusive language, and sedition.

According to the new legislation, network operators are obliged to offer users an easily recognizable and immediately responsive process to lodge complaints about hate speech. Social media networks can pass the actual decision on to a shared independent oversight body for operators that is yet to be created. Such an institution would also be obliged to act within seven days.